MORNING

I am addicted to bed. I love the warm dizziness after a good nights sleep that surrounds the consciousness. The sweet reluctance is so irresistible. Household chattering ensues , and I, like a demigod, look on without any interest. Mom screams at me : "Why cant you get up early? Everybody is busy and you seem to be someone who just cannot accept the fact that there is a part of the day called morning. For how long you have not seen one? "

" Hmm.....well...I know morning is good....that's when everybody gets up.....and if u get up early..u will feel like a ....like a fresh cucumber....I know all this stuff. It's good for your health also." I pointed out.

" well then what's the problem with you not getting up early?

" You see....Its boring. Waking up at 6 , when the morning sweeper cleans the road. I cannot join him. To go morning walk? I ll come across so many known faces that there will hardly be any walking. What else? I don't enjoy going to markets, do bargaining  with shrewd shop owners. It ll spoil my mood. What will I do?

" You can do the pranayam and yoga." Mom had the answer ready.

" I tried to, but fell asleep."

Mom left me, exasperated .

I hate reading newspaper since it left me feeling like I am living in a shit hole. Anybody can consider this as an escapist comment, but I do have one superstition that if you start your day looking at the faces of megalomaniacs, known crooks, smugglers and ex murderer, your day will surely go astray. My morning cup of tea, therefore, is taken in solitude which I enjoy thoroughly. Pre-office  humdrum follows which marks the end of my morning.

For last few days, however, there has been a change. I am waking up at early hours, shivering with rejuvenated chill of my city, lacing up my jogging shoes and moving out of the house. Yup, I have become a fitness buff. When the idea first struck me and a friend of mien, it seemed so absurd, at least to me, that I could not help but agree. I was sure that it'll end up as both of us snoring blissfully, while the morning will go by, unnoticed . I thought of the dipping mercury, the welcoming smile of my blanket( unknown to naked eyes, but if you are a lover of sleep, your blanket does share a special relation with you) and sighed. I have been putting on weight quite alarmingly. There is a sharp decline of fitness as well. Just this other day, I tried to kick a football, ending up falling almost over it, as if the center of gravity in my body has gone mad! This must be stopped before the water goes above the head. But still...is it possible??

The fateful morning came. I felt too sleepy, my voice too croaked, eyes too bleary with unfinished nap. Well, when you gotta go,you gotta go. With grim determination, I readied myself and went out.

The atmosphere outside was, so say the least, charming. Air was crispy. There was not a waft of pollutant. Sunshine was welcoming and reassuring. I took a deep breath and smiled at this beautiful daybreak. It seems, waking up early is after all,not that bad.

My friend was waiting for me, wearing a cute pink tracksuit. Her smile told me she also felt the same. We, two lazybones, hater of early rising, started out like two butterflies,fresh out of their cocoon.

Presently, we came to a park, jogged for 15 miniutes, and sat down, panting for breath. The park was full of exotic winter flowers, and not so exotic weeds. There were narrow lanes cutting across the grassy patch on which one can walk. We did some serious jogging and felt it may not be a wise decision to carry it on further since too much enthusiasm may ruin further exploration into a healthier life.

Aaah....dewdrops!!! Shining like tiny diamonds on grass tips!!! I almost felt like burying myself into that ethereal beauty. There was silence. No body to bother me, to remind me of my daily boring work routine....it was bliss!!! Sky was turning into a pleasant hue....taking the color of far off sea....and the sunshine!! It touched my heart ,a warm friendly hand , filled me with it's eternal glow.

" Can you hear that bird song?" My friend asked, wiping tiny beads of sweat off her face.

" Yes. I think It's a cuckoo. Look, its over there, under that bush."

" Hmm....looks like it's feeling lovesick. That sounds really plaintive to me." There was serious concern in her voice.

" In this early hours?" I considered the point. " highly unlikely I would say . I think that's a very clever cuckoo. He know's early bird gets the worm, or in this case, gets the lady. "

" Does not want to leave a single chance, right? "

I smiled. This conversation would have been so out of place if taken in a different, more civilized surrounding. That's the magic nature can inflict on you.

"Wait, let me show you something funny. "

I cleared my throat and whistled to the bird, mimicking the tune. It seemed surprised, looked at me with earnest concentration like the way a bird looks at you, swinging it's neck to get a better focus. I don't know whether the tune was a love hymn or a war cry, but definitely it disturbed the creature. It changed the position, moved up the tree,again came down, became increasingly restless.Then something interesting happened. Two more bird came and sat on nearby branches. One of them was definitely a female. They started some cacophonous avian conversation which, if translated into our language, could have been an argument, concerning the girl, who was swinging meditatively, chattering low sounds, while the males were engaged in some high pitch dramatic dialogues.

" Come, let's go from here. It does not seem very plaintive to me now." My friend sat up.

" Why? Let me see who will win. "

" Are you crazy? Come quickly, I wanna see the bunnies. "
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By that time, the park was becoming little populous. Two or three serious athletes were galloping around continuously, as if they have got multiple chambered lungs. I looked at them, imagining myself as one those blokes, which is still a far fetched dream.

The bunnies were minding there own business, while some new born,  little balls of fur with red button eyes were looking at us.

"Awww, aren't they cute?" My friend started taking pictures immediately.

" Hmmm, they are. I wonder, what cooking procedure you can follow for those? They can be, like, cooked whole I believe. The meat must be really soft."

" If you say something like that again, I 'll never accompany you." She looked at me with stern eyes.

I thought it will be better to contemplate the surrounding rather than probing further into my gastronomic inquiry.

The traffic on the road was more visible now. Distant honks and crackle of automobiles stirred the tranquility. It was time to go back. I, by this time, became quite a changed person. One thing came out very clear to me.Nature, like a faithful companion ,wont disturb you, but will sit beside you and enrich you with it's silent stories.

I told my friend : " How did you feel today?"

" Its enchanting!Simply enchanting!The morning surprised me so much with it's elements! We should have started this eons back."

" Will come back again tomorrow."

" Yup, that's for sure."

With this promising note, we trotted off to our home, refreshed ,filled with memory of a dewdrop morning.